¶ Intro / Opening
Welcome to Catalytic Leadership , the podcast designed to help leaders intentionally grow and thrive . Here is your host author and leadership and executive coach , dr William Attaway .
Hey , it's William and welcome to today's
¶ Catalytic Leadership Podcast
episode of the Catalytic Leadership podcast . Each week , we tackle a topic related to the field of leadership . My goal is to ensure that you have actionable steps you can take from each episode to grow in your own leadership . Growth doesn't just happen . My goal is to help you become intentional about it .
Each week , we spotlight leaders from a variety of fields , organizations and locations . My goal is for you to see that leaders can be catalytic , no matter where they are or what they lead . I draw inspiration from the stories and journeys of these leaders and I hear from many of you that you do too . Let's jump into today's interview .
I am thrilled today to have Jannah Righy on the show . She created Link Before you Sink LBYS , a handmade jewelry business that was created to find strength by linking with other people . She created this after going through her own personal struggle While riding her bike . One day , the chain broke .
She looked down and she had an epiphany the symbolism of links and connection while being broken hit her . She suddenly realized she could make jewelry charms out of the broken bike chain . Her mission is to find strength by linking with others . This jewelry is worn as a reminder that you are not alone . Lbys has now been linked in 20 countries .
Jannah , I am so excited you are here today . Thanks for being on the show .
Thank you so much for having me . I am super excited .
I would love for you to share some of your story with our listeners how you got started , particularly around your journey and your development as a leader . How did you get started , sure ?
Yeah , so it goes back to 2014 . So I was living in Florida at the time and it was just one of those things when it went through a really hard time in my life . So I lost my father to a long battle of cancer . I actually broke off my engagement the following week and then a couple of days after that I lost a really close family friend of mine .
So I knew I needed to come back . So I was living in Florida with my fiance , but I knew I needed to come back to Ohio , to my support system , and I was terrified . I didn't have a glimmer of hope . I had monthly reoccurring student loans .
I didn't have anybody that was going to pay those for me , but I knew I needed to put my mental health first and again get back to my support system . So on that 22 , 23 hour car ride , no radio on , just a deep thought , thinking you know what am I going to tell people ?
I made a promise to myself that when not if I got back on my feet , I would pay it forward to others going through tough times , and I didn't know how I was going to do it at the time , but that stuck with me . And so it was about three and a half years later .
I was riding my bike and the chain actually fell off and broke and I was ticked off and I looked down and it was just one of those aha moments . I realized that again I could make jury charms out of the broken bike chain . So our mission was set that day and , as you stated , it's to find strength by linking with others . I love that .
Why do you think linking with other people is so important ?
So it's honestly how I truly got through that tough time in my life . So , in just to clarify , we link through our jewelry it's one as a reminder that you're not alone and we link through story sharing through our blog . So each piece or jewelry links , as we call them .
You receive an anonymous story that was submitted through our blog and then it takes you back to like the QR code where you can read these other stories . So that's the verb of linking and that is so important because that's how I got through my tough time and I was like it took me a while to get there .
I was really quiet , like when people I was suddenly back in Columbus with no job , it was embarrassing . People were asking me what do you do ? And I was like I don't really know . I'm in transition . The more I linked up and got vulnerable with other people , the more people reciprocated with me .
So I think connection I mean it's got how I got through my tough time and I always say alone we are strong , but linked we are stronger .
So what are some different ways that you link people together ?
Yep , so it mainly our jewelry . Well , two ways blog and jewelry . So when we actually started off with , when you break apart a bike chain , it breaks down between a flat and a double and actually we're in the flat right now . So our pieces are worn as a reminder that you're not alone . But to me the verb of linking is more important .
So when you purchase that piece , we connect you with a story of somebody that's going through a similar struggle in our blog . Anybody can go on there and I always encourage if you have a story , please share it .
You never know the the lives that you touch with your own story , but you can go on there and find , like a topic we do just insert stories , inspirational stories , and you never know which one you're going to get .
But you can always go back to the blog and find a topic that resonates with you , whether that's fertility issues or loss , or cancer or depression , anxiety . I mean , there's all different the ways that we link through that blog .
I imagine there's a lot of great stories there .
There are and some are really sad . And you know , this question that I actually get is like how do you take all that in ? And it's like I know I'm serving a bigger purpose . But there are a lot of great stories and anything with children or childhood cancer . Those ones particularly really touch me .
But it is important to share that , to know that somebody else is also maybe going through that , unfortunately . So I focus on the bigger picture .
Is there one that has left a significant impression on you that you'd be willing to share ?
They all do , but I actually this is a so I met her in Columbus , ohio and I was doing I feel like God works in crazy ways , right ? So I was at an event and I was given my little spiel . You know , again , I hate talking about myself , but it is why we started and I was like here's what we do and here's where I recreated .
And the woman said oh my gosh , you have to come to this fundraiser this weekend . It was Thursday on Sunday , can you make it happen ? I was like , well , sure , what's it for ? And she said my son , or my friend's son , actually killed himself because he was cyber bullied online . So , anyways , I'm like I'll be there , you know , no worries , I'll be there .
We give back a portion of proceeds , but I met her . She's since shared her story on my blog .
If she has a super incredible stories or incredible story , but that one really resonated with me personally because then I met her and now I have her phone number you know what I mean and she's changing a lot with the way things happen with her son and laws are being set in motion .
So that's one of that I really like to share , because I personally met linked with her in person . You know , sometimes it's just online .
I love that this is such a passion project for you . In this case , the story you told . She has a passion project that's very near and dear to her . There are people listening who are entrepreneurs , who are leaders , who are agency owners , but there are also those who have a passion project they haven't started yet .
There's something that's in their heart , that's in their mind , that they haven't stepped down on . What would you say to somebody who's wrestling with that ?
To start . I can tell you all the hiccups that I made . There's a lot of them . But they always say , if you start when everything's perfect , you started too late . You learn as you go .
It's frustrating to me because I have people say , oh well , I wouldn't know how to put that together on a website , or I wouldn't know how to order that online , or I wouldn't know how to plate that . It's like I didn't either . I just figured it out . I always say , if your why is there ?
If you start something with money when things hiccup or when things break or when hiccups happen , you usually give up when it's in your heart and you go back to your why . It's like why am I doing this ? You don't give up on it . Just start . And then your why will always lead you back to the next step that you should be taking . Just start baby steps .
I can tell you I messed up medals . It wasn't hyperallergenic . There's a lot of things . If we want to record through all through the weekend , I can tell you all about all my mistakes , but it's just your why will get you to that next step . Just start somewhere . Things happen for you when you take action .
They do not happen when you're sitting in the passenger seat . Take that baby step and go from there .
Did you ever struggle with people doubting you during the process ?
Oh my gosh , I struggled with so many people doubting me . I always get the question , too , with what was your biggest struggle ? I could sit here and tell you about all the mistakes that I made . I've had influencers tell me that no one would wear , that , they're never going to make an impact by jewelry that's off of a bike chain . I knew I would .
I knew in my heart and I'd cry and get upset and then the next day I'd be like I'll tell you , I'll tell you , I'm going to prove you wrong . I think the hardest thing for me I was trying to prove myself , or it was within me , For example . I was trying to . I think this resonates with all entrepreneurs . I struggled with comparison .
I'm a very unique brand . I always say I'm mission first , jewelry second . I have friends that own jewelry businesses . I hired an e-commerce coach and it was hey , when you do this ad , you need to show the prettiness of the jewelry or you only grow if you do wholesale . I tried wholesale . It didn't work for me because my mission was lost .
I went back to my . I was stuck in the comparison and that's why you never do that . It's like well , what's my uniqueness ? My uniqueness is I have the perk of a blog . I have the perk of stories . I give back . I started doing fundraisers and products online that gave back a portion of proceeds . I crushed that .
Not only was it more financially fruitful for me , but it also my energy was full . You know what I mean when I do an event or when I connect with Jen . Was her name in Columbus who lost her son ? That fills my cup , or it's like wholesale didn't .
So I'm not saying one is right and one is wrong , but it's like go back to your uniqueness he has and focus on what makes you different than , for me , the next jewelry brand . So if you're a life coach , it is frustrating , I'm sure , to see if they have more clients than me or they're doing this different than me , it's like .
But you have something different to offer than that other life coach . So go back to your unique gift we all have one and start try not to get stuck in that comparison . Does that make sense ?
No , absolutely , and I think the comparison trap is one that most people will spend time in at some point in their journey .
Yeah . So I guess there's a question . I doubted myself , I doubted myself with a lot and it was like I have a list of , like , what works , what doesn't work , and it's like is this going back to your , why Not sales ? Is this going back to your why ?
And then the money usually trickles from there , you know sometimes it's , it is self-doubt , sometimes it's what you say to yourself and sometimes it's the voices of other people speaking that into you and over you . In both cases , you have to figure out a way through it .
You have to figure out a way around it , over it , under it , to get to the other side of it .
And I love that you've done that I love that you said
I'm not going to let that stop me .
And that's why you got to start with you first , because now I'm confident in my why .
And so when other people now doubt me like an influencer for like , oh , I wouldn't know , it's not , you know , you'll never make an impact with that , I'm like , huh , that makes me actually like , oh , you're not for me now , you know , or before , when I , when I wasn't , when you know , when I was doubting myself , I wasn't able to handle that feedback .
It crushed me . I'm like , oh , I'm not going to let that stop me . You know , take care of yourself first , get out yourself , doubt first , and then you're able to handle other people's negative cause .
They will come other people's doubts and negative comments , but it's like Focus on you , know you , and getting your mindset right and focus on why you're doing something and then boost your . It boosts your confidence and it you see that you're making a difference and then I'm ready to handle others doubts now .
People , people who are listening are in different stages of their business , of their career . Some are Struggling whether to start when to start . Some have started , but they're . They're not to the point of breakthrough yet . They're still kind of in the the struggle , still in the valley . What's something you would say to
¶ Embrace Unique Gifts, Keep Going
them ?
Focus day by day . So if you notice how I start my story , oh it's I , you know . And then about three and a half is I got . Then I got back to Ohio and then , three and a half years later , we're missing that three and a half year gap . Right , yeah , it was a lot of self-doubt , I mean one . I didn't have a job when I started .
It was like what am I gonna do next ? What am I gonna tell people ? There was a lot that happened in that three and a half year journey and you just look at it as baby steps and I feel like , day by day , just take it day by day . Wait for me . It's waking up and doing my daily devotionals and working out , and just Clarity comes .
You don't know when it's gonna come . Like for me , it was a slap in the face when I the bike broke , or my bike chain broke . I was ready to receive that gift , though , because I worked on myself and For that three and a half years . Do you know what I mean ? So it's like just take it .
Just keep on focusing on your day to day , plugging away , doing what you know you need to do , seeing on your health , you know . And then you're ready . When that you get your moment . For me it was a you know or you get clarity . It comes .
I don't know when it's gonna come , but it'll come if you keep taking action , if you sit on you know and the backseat it won't come to you . So just focus on your day to day and I think your clarity will come . I just can't tell you when .
Unfortunately , If you could go back into that season At the , the beginning of that three and a half year season , if you could go back to that time and tell yourself something , what would you like to tell yourself ?
You're enough , you're loved and you'll get through this because I was broken . I was . Who's gonna love me now if , like , somebody can't love me ? After the loss of my father , I didn't even have time to grieve my father . I was at the beginning . I was in shock from a broken engagement too . You know what I mean .
It was like a lot of self-doubt creeped in on me and that took time to heal from that . I would tell that Jenna that , like , if you're a chapter book , you know let's look at birds , birds , I view you're stuck in the crappy chapter , but the page will turn .
The page will turn , just , I mean , but just just focus on what you need to do to get to that turning of the chapter . So , yeah , I would tell her that it's gonna be , it's gonna be okay and the page will turn and you're enough . And now I'm happily married , I have us , you know , a two-year-old son .
Things always work out the way they're supposed to be . It's just , it's easy for me . I always say I never read the headlines anymore or like the the highlight reels on Instagram , because it's like what happened in between ? Like , you know , what happened in between ? That's where , for me , the magic happens , when you're in that dark time .
Sometimes it's like that's when I got clarity through my struggle .
So hmm , you know , too many entrepreneurs do they compare their day-to-day to somebody else's highlight real and they feel like they're not enough . They , they come , they play the comparison game and what they don't understand is that when you play that game , you always lose .
Oh wait , look at me . I spent a year doing , trying to do . I mean , I could give you a million comparisons . But for talking jewelry to jewelry , I spent a year doing wholesale and it wasn't working . And it's like because my mission was lost . Think about a jewelry like just hanging on it , like in a boutique . There's no story card with it , there's no .
Hey , here's the mission . Like our unboxing experience may be biased is pretty incredible . You're losing that with wholesale . And here I was still comparing To these other jewelry brands . I'm not another jewelry brand , I'm my own jewelry brand and embrace your uniqueness .
And that goes to get again with the life coach , with a fitness instructor , where all there's a million different fitness instructors or life coaches or focus on your uniqueness and you know , focus on your gift and that's when the magic happens . But I was stuck in that comparison for a long time .
I think that's the source of so many of the bumps and bruises an entrepreneur's experience , you know because they're trying to operate outside of who they are . They're trying to operate outside of their authenticity and I love that you saw that , discovered that and said no , I'm doubling down on operating in this space .
And it's important to note too , because I had somebody ask me I think it was yesterday like how do you shut that off ? I'm like it doesn't shut off , the microphone just turns down a little bit and then it turns back up , and then you turn it back down a little bit and then you turn it back , it turns back up . I mean , it never goes away .
So just to be very clear , I still struggle with that . Everybody still struggles with that . I see stuff online . Oh my gosh , they're crushing it . I stink . You know what I mean . It's like you just need to turn down that microphone a little bit each day , but you're always working on that . It doesn't ever go away .
Good advice there too . Is there a book that has made an impact on your life , your journey , that you would say , hey , if you're a leader , an entrepreneur , a business owner , this is one you really need to read .
Yeah , there's a bunch , but I would say , right off the cusp it was Believe it by Jamie Kern-Lyma Great advice . Yeah , she's awesome . I actually got it free Like I had . It was postpartum with my son . I was reading it Like he was two days old . I'm like this book is incredible .
It's just it's a motivational entrepreneur book and it's just like right if you got to believe it within yourself . And if you believe , I mean for me again it's God . If it's like , if you again a lot of wavering feelings , am I supposed to be doing this ? Should I be doing this ? Am I an idiot ?
Like I used to do sales and crush it easily , but like I feel like this was placed on my heart for a reason and it's just like it gave me again more clarity . That like believe it , believe in yourself and if you know that this is your purpose in life , then keep going . And the rest , and she talks about I like vulnerability .
She talks about all the struggles that she had with starting a business and she actually just launched another business I just found out about this week , so I ordered on preorder . So , yeah , believe it by Jamie Kern-Lyma is an amazing book .
You know , as we get to the end of the show , is there one thing you'd like people to take away from your journey so far , one thing from this episode that you're like , if you missed everything else , I want you to make sure you get this .
I want you to make sure that you embrace your unique gifts and I know that I've talked about that . But with that goal , it means not stop comparing and that's why I say for me it's true A lot of people are probably do not run a jewelry business , but it's really focusing on your unique gifts , your why write them down and just keep going with that .
And what I do is I have a just Jenna folder . So anytime somebody sends me an inspiration or inspirational email or a nice DM or a text , I screenshot that and I save it in my just Jenna folder . So when I that negative voice is turned all the way up , I get that out and reread like why are you doing this ?
Like remember your why , and that it's like same thing with like a gratitude journal . You know what I mean Write down what you're grateful for , and for me it's my just Jenna folder . And just remembering that it brings me back to my why . You know , and anything .
I feel like anything could happen now in my business and stuff could break and packages could get lost in the mail . And if I go back to that folder this is why you're doing it and you'll get through it and you know , and we'll get to the next day the page will turn . Yeah , the page will turn , exactly , I love it .
I know our listeners are going to want to stay connected with you , Jenna , and continue to learn from you . What is the best way for them to do that ?
The best way . My website is linkbeforeusynccom and if you go on the top , I always clarify yes , we sell a product , but we share stories . You know , if you don't want to purchase a product , you can share your story for free . Go on to our blog for free .
Our Instagram is at linkbeforeusync like a kitchen sink , and then our Facebook is linked before you sync as well , and then I always give a promo code to any listeners . So why don't we just do it ? What about this leadership 25 ? Does that work ? That works All right , I'll set that up .
So leadership 25 for 25% off if you do want to purchase a piece , but if not , please just go on there and link with us through story sharing .
Love that . I'll make sure those links are in the show notes .
Okay .
Jenna , thank you for being on the show and for sharing from your own journey , I think . I think you've really brought a level of transparency and authenticity to this and I really appreciate that .
Thank you so much . Yeah , I thank you so much and feel free . I check emails . If you have any questions , please email me . It's my email or my contact us . I'm reading those . So if you have any questions or if you'd like to reach out , I say that and maybe I'll just put you in my just Jenna folder .
So please reach out and if you have any questions or if you'd like to share anything , Thanks for joining me for this episode today .
As we wrap up , I'd love for you to do two things . First , subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode , and if you find value here , I'd love it if you would rate it and review it . That really does make a difference in helping other people to discover this podcast .
Second , if you don't have a copy of my newest book , catalytic Leadership , I'd love to put a copy in your hands . If you go to catalyticleadershipbookcom , you can get a copy for free . Just pay the shipping so I can get it to you and we'll get one right out . My goal is to
¶ Catalytic Leadership and Book Promotion
put this into the hands of as many leaders as possible . This book captures principles that I've learned in 20 plus years of coaching leaders in the entrepreneurial space , in business , government , nonprofits , education and the local church . You can also connect with me on LinkedIn to keep up with what I'm currently learning and thinking about .
If you're ready to take a next step with a coach to help you intentionally grow and thrive as a leader , I'd be honored to help you . Just go to catalyticleadershipnet to book a call with me . Stay tuned for our next episode next week . Until then , as always , leaders choose to be catalytic .
Thanks for listening to Catalytic Leadership with Dr William Attaway . Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss the next episode . Want more ? Go to catalyticleadershipnet .